Written by Bradford Doolittle at ESPN.com
In the end, it was most fitting. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ quest for a pennant ended on the field where it began nearly a year ago, on the ancient grounds of Wrigley Field.
It was most fitting that the winning pitcher was the Dodgers’ longtime ace, Clayton Kershaw, who flashed his best stuff in two months and dazzled the Chicago Cubs for six innings. In years past, the Dodgers might have asked Kershaw to do more. This season, they didn’t need it.
It was most fitting that Kershaw didn’t have to carry the load himself. Not in the least. In a season when the Dodgers seemed to produce a fresh hero every night, it was lightly regarded utility player Enrique Hernandez who produced an epic clinching performance.
But someone else might have stepped up just as easily.
It was most fitting that a Dodgers team that led the major leagues in wins during the season stomped the now-former champion Chicago Cubs 11-1 on a chilly Thursday evening in Wrigleyville, obliterating any hopes for a miracle Chicago comeback and a championship repeat by taking the National League Championship Series in five games.
Finally, it was most fitting that the best Dodgers team in decades — a 104-win juggernaut — took their first National League pennant since 1988. After 29 seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers are going back to the World Series.
The Dodgers jumped on Cubs starter Jose Quintana from the beginning, getting an RBI double from super rookie Cody Bellinger in the first and a solo homer from Hernandez in the second.
The latter was not a surprise. Hernandez is a righty-hitting specialist with the defensive versatility to plug spots all over the field. He hit .270 with 10 homers off lefties during the regular season.
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